Hopper for transportation of mineral or aggregates

ABSTRACT

A hopper for transportation of mineral or aggregates which prevents the material from falling off due to movements or slope, and which improves load performance and facilitates the download. In the joining areas between the front and the floor and between the sides and the floor there are folded or cylindered pieces giving curvature to such joining points, thus adding anti-adherent features to this hopper. The front is folded with a wide radius, also achieving an anti-adherent feature. There are also folds in the front and the shield to avoid beams in those areas of the hopper, thus decreasing the total weight of such hopper and reducing the appearance of cracks and lessening the amount of welding. Additionally, the area of release is wider than the front and shield portions to allow for a better sliding of the material during unloading.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relates to and claims priority from U.S. Utility patentSer. No. 13/598,190 filed Aug. 29, 2012 issued as U.S. Pat. No.8,714,656 on May 6, 2014, and Chile Utility Patent Ser. No. CL 2538-2011filed Oct. 12, 2011, the entire contents of each of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to hoppers for mining trucks andaggregates in general, and the construction thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

As we know, there are different types, designs and shapes of hoppers formining trucks and aggregates, in general, that are used to transportmaterials or ores of various grain sizes, particle sizes and densities,which makes the amount of cargo or tonnage for a same volume to varydepending on this latter parameter. The materials they are made of arein general structural steels and, in some cases, non-abrasive steels,depending on the application and loading system. This latter pointvaries from task to task, giving a better or worse condition based onthe loading of material. Such is the case of unloading through a chutedoor or gate, which is a rather gradual and controlled loading, asopposed to a shock loading, such as in the case of a front loader thatprojects the load through the sides of the truck, thereby falling on theloading area or the opposite side of the hopper without the equipmentoperator's vision. This causes extensive damage to the welds used tojoin the sides and the floor or front floor.

According to the above, sturdier hoppers are needed due to currentconditions and trends of mining, which are targeted at larger and highload capacity equipment with greater availability of equipment formaintenance. This requires high capacity and resistance hoppers, thusrequiring a greater number of structures or materials that make it moreresistant, and/or a greater thickness to resist shocks and increasethicknesses in order to improve availability as a result of wearing ofthe plates which are in contact with the material, and slippage of theaggregates at the time of purging.

The current requirements for these loading components or hoppers demandthat they are more robust by increasing their own weight with a decreasein the weight of the transported material by removing load capacity fromthe equipment (trucks). On the other hand, if a lighter hopper is made,i.e., by sacrificing thicknesses and materials of their structure, morefrequent maintenances or replacements are needed or generated, and adecline in the availability of equipment due to frequent maintenance isconfronted. Both scenarios are not what users are looking for. Rather,users desire a balance of load, shock and abrasion resistant in a lighthopper having a greater availability respect to corrective maintenances.

The present invention is based on the use of technologically advanced orlatest generation elements to be able to meet the demand of a greaterload capacity and a longer service life due to the floor abrasion,satisfying the availability requirement of the client and the objectivesset by the current market.

To meet the resistance and availability requirements, currently thereare special steels, which are structurally more resistant ranging from300 megapascals (MPa) to 700 MPa, depending on the type and origin. Incontrast to the related art, the present invention proposes to (1) usesteels with improved mechanical properties, (2) make a structure with anequal or greater resistance without increasing the thicknesses of thematerials, since their densities do not vary much, and (3) create adesign with the computer design methods and tools available in themarket, thereby simplifying the structure by virtually analyzing thesame in a quick and safe manner. This will allow the making of foldedsteels in critical areas of the hopper, thereby making it moreresistant. In order to create these folds, more powerful and accurateequipment are required, forcing the use of high capacity foldingtechnology and CNC (computer numerical control) controls. Also, giventhe size of the steel pieces, more power is required to fold them due totheir special properties.

On the other hand, to prevent abrasive wearing, abrasion resistantsteels are used. Such steels have hardness ranging from current 200Brinell to 450 and/or 500 or more, with the capacity to significantlyincrease service life from wearing. However, such steels also haveresistances ranging from 800 MPa to 1400 MPa and more, having morereason to use equipment more robust than traditional ones. As mentionedabove, this allows the offering of a highly resistant and availableproduct for production, but with a low weight in its structure. Thisallows a greater amount of load to be transported, and decreases theamount of fuel consumption, which, in large equipment can be veryexpensive.

Traditional manufacturing of hoppers is based on heavy structures withstandard market folds or beams. In some cases there are specialmaterials in terms of design, but they do not meet the above objectives.In the case of light hoppers, they have a lower weight in order to notaffect the truck capacity. However, such hoppers have a shorter servicelife as a result of shocks and/or abrasion forcing to stop the equipmentfor more frequent maintenances.

In the case of non-abrasive steel applications, these are applied intheir natural form as unfolded plates given their high resistanceproperties and the difficulty in making them with standard methods.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved hopper for mining trucksand aggregates that use steels with improved mechanical properties,comprise a structure with an equal or greater resistance withoutincreasing the thicknesses of the materials, since their densities donot vary much, and are designed using the computer design methods andtools available in the market, thereby simplifying the structure byvirtually analyzing the same in a quick and safe manner. Further, thereis also a need for an improved hopper which prevents the accumulation ofmaterial due to the wide radius of folding of the base plate in theareas of the floor with the front and the floor with the sides.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This utility model relates to a hopper for transportation of mineral oraggregates which prevents the material from falling off due to movementsor slope, and which improves load performance and facilitates thedownload. In the joining areas between the front and the floor andbetween the sides and the floor there are folded or cylindered piecesgiving curvature to such joining points, thus adding anti-adherentfeatures to this hopper. The front is folded with a wide radius, alsoachieving an anti-adherent feature. There are also folds in the frontand the shield to avoid beams in those areas of the hopper, thusdecreasing the total weight of such hopper and reducing the appearanceof cracks and lessening the amount of welding.

This invention also relates to a hopper which, by design, prevents theaccumulation of material due to the wide radius of folding of the baseplate in the areas of the floor with the front and the floor with thesides. Such a hopper considers the unloading area with a wider materialrelease angle, thereby decreasing release times. Another feature of thehopper according to the invention is that it removes the beams in thefront and in the shield by applying folds directly to the base plate,thus reducing the cracking problems that occur in the prior models. Alower welding application is also obtained by removing the beams, thusdecreasing stress points, increasing resistance due to the applicationof folds, and reducing the overall weight of the hopper. Thus, a lowerfrequency of maintenance is obtained. Furthermore, the hopper has no orminimal spillage problems in twelve degree (12°) steep climbs orstability problems in curve areas.

According to the invention, this new hopper preferably has in itsjoining area between the front and the floor some folded or cylinderedor cylindrically curved pieces. The front is folded with a wide radiuswith an anti-adherent feature. In the joining point between the sidesand the floor, there are also these folded or cylindered pieces toobtain radii in the joining points to achieve anti-adherent propertiesor features. Also, it is preferred that the hopper release area be widerthan the front to allow a better sliding of the material. In general,this is a hopper which does not allow the load to fail off due to slopesor sudden movements of the truck (i.e., anti-carry back). It is alsopreferred that in the hopper according to the invention the beams in thefront and in the shield are removed due to the folds applied directly tothe base plate, thus decreasing stress points, increasing resistance dueto the application of folds, and reducing the overall weight of thehopper.

A hopper for transportation of mineral or aggregates which prevents thematerial from falling off due to slope movements, and which improvesload performance and facilitates the release, wherein in the joiningarea between the front and the floor are folded or cylindered piecesgiving curvature to such joining point, thus adding anti-adherentfeatures to this hopper; wherein in the joining area between the sidesand the floor, there are folded or cylindered pieces giving curvature tosuch joining point, thus adding anti-adherent features to this hopper;wherein the front is folded with a wide radius, also achieving ananti-adherent feature; wherein there are folds in the front and theshield to avoid beams in those areas of the hopper, thus decreasing thetotal weight of such hopper and reducing the appearance of cracks andlessening the amount of welding; and wherein the release area is widerto allow for a better sliding of the material.

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals designate the same elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the present invention can be obtained byreference to a preferred embodiment set forth in the illustrations ofthe accompanying drawings. Although the illustrated preferred embodimentis merely exemplary of methods, structures and compositions for carryingout the present invention, both the organization and method of theinvention, in general, together with further objectives and advantagesthereof, may be more easily understood by reference to the drawings andthe following description. The drawings are not intended to limit thescope of this invention, which is set forth with particularity in theclaims as appended or as subsequently amended, but merely to clarify andexemplify the invention.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference isnow made to the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a rear view of the hopper in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of the hopper according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a side elevation view of the hopper according to theinvention; and

FIG. 4 shows a side elevation view of a truck with the hopper accordingto the invention in a loaded position (A) and an unloading position (B).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As required, a detailed illustrative embodiment of the present inventionis disclosed herein. However, techniques, systems, compositions andoperating structures in accordance with the present invention may beembodied in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, forms and modes, some ofwhich may be quite different from those in the disclosed embodiment.Consequently, the specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are merely representative, yet in that regard, they are deemed toafford the best embodiment for purposes of disclosure and to provide abasis for the claims herein which define the scope of the presentinvention.

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of theinvention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whereverpossible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawingsand the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. Thedrawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. Forpurposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such astop, bottom, up, down, over, above, below, etc., or motional terms, suchas forward, back, sideways, transverse, etc. may be used with respect tothe drawings. These and similar directional terms should not beconstrued to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, shown is a preferred embodiment of a hopperaccording to the present invention. As depicted, hopper 1 is for thetransportation of minerals or aggregates and is such that it preventsthe material from falling off due to movements or slope, and whichimproves load performance and facilitates the download. Preferably, inthe joining areas between the front 6 and the floor 5 and between thesides 8 and the floor 5 there are folded or cylindered pieces 3 givingcurvature to such joining points. Optionally, the front 6 is folded witha wide radius to achieve an anti-adherent feature. There are also foldsin the front 6 and the shield 7 to avoid beams in those areas of thehopper 1, thus decreasing the total weight of hopper 1 and reducing theappearance of cracks and lessening the amount of welding.

The present invention also relates to a hopper 1 which, by design,prevents the accumulation of material due to the wide radius of foldingof the base plate in the areas of the floor 5 with the front 6 and thefloor 5 with the sides 8. Such a hopper 1 considers the unloading areawith a wider material release angle, thereby decreasing release times.Another feature of the hopper 1 according to the invention is that itremoves the beams in the front 6 and in the shield 7 by applying foldsdirectly to the base plate, thus reducing the cracking problems thatoccur in the prior models. A lower welding application is also obtainedby removing the beams, thus decreasing stress points, increasingresistance due to the application of folds, and reducing the overallweight of the hopper 1. Thus, a lower frequency of maintenance isobtained. Furthermore, the hopper 1 has no or minimal spillage problemsin 12° steep climbs or stability problems in curve areas.

This new hopper 1 has in its joining area between the front 6 and thefloor 5 some folded or cylindered pieces 2, the front 6 is folded with awide radius with an anti-adherent feature. In the joining point betweenthe sides 8 and the floor 5, there are also these folded or cylinderedpieces (3) to obtain radii in the joining points to achieve a furtheranti-adherent feature. In the hopper release area 4, this is wider toallow a better sliding of the material. In general, this is a hopperwhich does not allow the load to fall off due to slopes or suddenmovements of the truck (anti-carry back). This hopper removes the beamsin the front 6 and the shield 7 by applying folds directly to the baseplate.

Hopper 1 is primarily designed for the transportation of mineral oraggregates and which prevents the material from falling off due to slopemovements, and which improves load performance and facilitates therelease, wherein in the joining area between the front 6 and the floor 5are folded or cylindered pieces 2 giving curvature to such joiningpoint; wherein in the joining area between the sides 8 and the floor 5are folded or cylindered pieces 3 giving curvature to such joiningpoint; wherein the front 6 is folded with a wide radius; wherein thereare folds in the front 6 and the shield 7 to avoid beams in those areasof the hopper 1; and wherein the release area has a width W1 which iswider than the width W2 of the shield region 7 to allow for a bettersliding of the material upon unloading.

Additionally, as will be noted in reference to FIG. 4, an exemplarytruck 10 includes a plurality of tires 11, as shown on a truck body(shown but not numbered), and the hopper 1 is tiltable relative theretovia a lifting mechanism 12, as shown. Those of skill in the art, havingstudied the disclosure herewith, will recognize that a variety of trucks1, tires 11, and lifting mechanism 12 may be employed without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In the claims, means or step-plus-function clauses are intended to coverthe structures described or suggested herein as performing the recitedfunction and not only structural equivalents but also equivalentstructures. Thus, for example, although a nail, a screw, and a bolt maynot be structural equivalents in that a nail relies on friction betweena wooden part and a cylindrical surface, a screw's helical surfacepositively engages the wooden part, and a bolt's head and nut compressopposite sides of a wooden part, in the environment of fastening woodenparts, a nail, a screw, and a bolt may be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art as equivalent structures.

Having described at least one of the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is tobe understood that such embodiments are merely exemplary and that theinvention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that variouschanges, modifications, and adaptations may be effected therein by oneskilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of theinvention as defined in the appended claims. The scope of the invention,therefore, shall be defined solely by the following claims. Further, itwill be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes maybe made in such details without departing from the spirit and theprinciples of the invention. It should be appreciated that the presentinvention is capable of being embodied in other forms without departingfrom its essential characteristics,

What is claimed is:
 1. A hopper comprising: a floor region; at least twoside wall regions; and a front wall region; wherein said floor region isjoined to each of said side wall regions by a folded region having afirst defined curvature, and wherein said floor region is joined to saidfront wall region by a folded region having a second defined curvature;and wherein said folded regions have a cylindered configuration.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said hopper has a rear gate.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said hopper has a shield.
 4. The apparatusof claim 3, wherein an area between said shield and said front wallregion is folded.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first andsecond defined curvatures provide anti-adhesive features to said hopper.6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hopper is connected to a truckwith a lifting mechanism.
 7. A hopper comprising: a floor region; atleast two side wall regions; and a front wall region; wherein said floorregion is joined to each of said side wall regions by a folded regionhaving a first defined curvature, and wherein said floor region isjoined to said front wall region by a folded region having a seconddefined curvature; wherein said hopper has a shield; wherein an areabetween said shield and said front wall region is folded and defines afolded region; and wherein said folded regions have a cylinderedconfiguration.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first andsecond defined curvatures provide anti-adhesive features to said hopper.